STEVE Wilkes said his players’ poor attitude was to blame after Northwich Victoria slipped to a third successive league defeat.

He expects an improvement when they visit Padiham, his former club, on Tuesday night.

“We were sloppy in the warm-up and that carried into the game,” he said.

“I’m really disappointed; we got what we deserved.”

Curiously, his side still created enough chances to prevent in-form opponents from extending a winning run to five matches.

However they were playing catch-up from the sixth minute after Chris Webster poked in from close-range when goalkeeper Danny Taberner failed to claim a corner.

He was more alert moments later, parrying an effort to safety.

Joel Brownhill, facing a side for which he was leading scorer last season, then fired straight at the goalkeeper after turning away from a marker.

Jordan Darr’s effort was off-target before another Ashton flag-kick caused panic in Vics’ defence before they scrambled clear.

A moment of controversy followed when Darrhyl Mason went to ground after pushing the ball around the home team’s custodian, only for the referee to signal play should carry on.

Darr’s next effort was blocked after Mason flicked on before the latter wasted another favourable opportunity.

The pattern continued in the second-half when Mason ran clear before shooting too close to Ashton’s number one.

He failed to hit the target after Billy Whittle’s long ball sent him clear before Darr sneaked behind the hosts’ defence and sent a shot against the post.

Vics were made to pay for their wastefulness in front of goal when Matthew Reid finished smartly at the end of a counter-attack.

Wilkes added: “I think the decision by the referee not to send off their goalkeeper was a turning point.

“He admitted afterwards that he’d made a mistake and offered an apology.”

Vics | Taberner (GK), Camozzi, Barski, Fitzgerald (Boon 46), Monson, Whittle (Doran 64), Cooke, Craig, Brownhill, Darr, Mason Subs not used Clarke, Kenny, Whyte Booked Whittle

Attendance 74